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Former Advisor to the Caretaker Government and Chairman of PPRC, Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, stated that the demand for healthcare services is increasing rapidly due to accelerated urbanization. Therefore, integrated healthcare services must be strengthened further. He remarked that health services cannot be ensured solely by curing diseases.
In such a context, US CDC and Safetynet Bangladesh has earned praise for its effective measures in disease prevention in urban areas. He added that not just in metropolitan cities but nationwide efforts should be made to implement effective measures for disease prevention. He emphasized that not only the government but Development partners should also step forward to support this cause. Launched in 2020, this initiative has significantly enhanced public health capacities in 12 city corporations across Bangladesh. Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman also praised the recruitment of public health epidemiologist in these 12 city corporations.
He made these comments while delivering the keynote speech as the chief guest at a progress review and discussion workshop on the "Urban Public Health System Strengthening Program (2020 -2024)," held today at the DPHIE Auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka. Safetynet Bangladesh organized this discussion session in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA, Save the Children and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives of Bangladesh.
The workshop was chaired by Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Dr. Syed Hasan Abdullah, Country Director of Safetynet Bangladesh. The event was graced by special guests, including Mr. Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, Secretary of the Local Government Division, and Dr. Neely, Country Director of the US CDC Bangladesh office. Additionally, administrators of Dhaka North and South City Corporations, senior officials from the Health Division of the Local Government Ministry, and prominent public health professionals from across the country attended the event.
Over the past four years, the Safetynet program has taken several impactful steps to improve urban public health. It has run public health campaigns focusing on non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and obesity, as well as on communicable diseases like dengue and Hepatitis B, providing crucial information to thousands of urban residents. Furthermore, the program has introduced the “Applied Epidemiology and Public Health Management Fellowship,” which offers hands-on training to city corporation health officials and medical professionals, enabling them to become more proficient in managing public health crises. Alongside this, an infectious disease surveillance system has been established in six major city corporations, significantly improving their capacity for disease detection and prevention, thereby strengthening long-term public health management. The workshop also reflected
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